Sept. 18, 2001

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame freshman forward Jacqueline Batteast (South Bend, Ind./Washington HS) has been named a preseason first-team freshman All-American by the Women’s Basketball News Service, it was announced this week. The five-player squad was released in conjunction with the WBNS preseason Top 25 poll and other preseason All-America teams.

It’s the second preseason honor for Batteast, who also has been tabbed as one of the top 21 “New Players of Impact” in 2001-02, according to Women’s College Hoops.com.

Batteast ranked as one of the top players ever to come out of the South Bend area. As a senior at Washington High School, she averaged career bests of 26.0 points and 16.0 rebounds per game, along with 4.4 blocks, 3.2 assists and 2.6 steals. The 6-1 forward earned first-team Parade All-America honors and also was named to the Naismith, Nike and Street & Smith’s All-America teams. In addition, she was an honorable mention All-America selection by the WBCA and a finalist for Naismith and Indiana Miss Basketball awards. A three-time first-team all-state pick, Batteast was also named one of the top 25 players in the nation by USA Today and she played in three different All-Star events – the Indiana-Kentucky, Indiana North-South and South Bend Tribune all-star contests.

Notre Dame has also been ranked in two preseason polls which have recently been released. The Irish, who return seven monogram winners from last year’s national championship squad, were ranked 13th in the Basketball News preseason poll, while the WBNS has Notre Dame checking in at No. 18.

The Irish will open the 2001-02 season Sunday, Nov. 18, at 1 p.m. (EST) when they entertain Valparaiso at the Joyce Center.

– ND –